University of Massachusetts will hire Winthrop’s Pat Kelsey as its next basketball head coach, according a source with direct knowledge of the hire.
Kelsey went 102–59 over five seasons at Winthrop. He reached the NCAA tournament this year and won two Big South regular season titles.
Kelsey, 41, replaces Derek Kellogg, a former Minuteman point guard who went 155–137 in nine seasons as head coach. He reached one NCAA tournament in that span and finished this season 15–18 and 4–14 in league play. UMass dismissed him immediately after the season ended.
UMass officials value the energy and passion Kelsey will bring to the program, which has a new practice facility that cost nearly $30 million to build.